Web reversing unit



Aug. 3, 1937. A. M. ZUCKERMAN WEB REVERSING UNIT Filed Feb. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. M. ZUCKERMAN I WEB REVERSING UNIT Filed Feb. 14, 1956 Aug 3, 1937.

. INVENTOR- W 1 Mm. y I

Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED STATES WEB REVERSING UNIT Adolph M. Zuckerman, New York, N. Y., assignor to R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 14,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to web-reversing units, and more particularly to web-reversing units to be employed in intaglio or rotogravure web printing machines having a plurality of printing couples.

I-Ieretofore, it has been the practice in the con struction and operation of a multi-unit intaglio printing machine to locate the paper roll supports in the line of printing unit-s between selected units, and feed the Web in one direction through one or more units to print on one side of the web, and then the web is directed over these units and fed in the opposite direction through the desired number of printing units to thereby print the opposed side of the web. This arrangement has proven unsatisfactory owing to its inflexibility, because it definitely determines the maximum number of colors that can be printed on either side of the web, unless a plurality of paper roll supports are provided along the line oi units. Placing paper roll supports in a number of different positions along a line of rotogravure printing units is objectionable, because it obviates the possibility of a compact press arrangement, and, furthermore, it increases the length of the web path. A press room floor space conservation is one of the serious problems now confronting printing machinery engineers and press room executives, and, consequently, any

construction which provides a more compact printing machine works to a definite advantage. it is also objectionable to feed the web in one direction through the required number of printing couples or units, and then feed the web in the opposite direction through the selected printing couples or units, because, under such conditions, the units must be made reversible, which greatly increases their cost. In a reversible intaglio rotogravure printing unit, an ink fountain of special 49 design having a doctor blade carrying mechanism at each side thereof is provided, and, owing to the necessity of providing means for the easy and. expeditious removal of the printing cylinder from the ink fountain, the additional doctor 4,; blade supporting mechanism introduces intricacies in the design that entail considerable expense. Furthermore, when it is necessary to feed the web in bot-h directions through an intaglio web printing unit, with which air drying equip- :M; ment is employed, it is necessary to provide two driers for each reversible unit, consequently, adding materially to the cost of the machine.

An object of my present invention is to provide a web-reversin unit for multi-units intaglio 5;; printing machines, the web-reversing unit being 1936, Serial No. 63,922

constructed and arranged, and, also so supported with relation to the line of printing units, that it is movable to any one of a plurality of operative positions along the line of units to reverse the web between selected units, thereby permitting the 5- web to run in both obverse and reverse positions in a common direction through all the units.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a web-reversing unit, for a multi-unit intaglio web printing machine, having a plurality of cooperable web-engaging components, the web-reversing unit being constructed, arranged and supported, with relation to the line of printing units, to reverse the Web between selected printing units without its web-engaging components engaging the printed side of the web.

Another object of this invention is to provide a web-reversing unit for use in a multi-unit intaglio web printing machine having a trackway extending along the printing units, the web-reversing unit being supported by and movable along the trackway and securable in any one of a plurality of operative positions for reversing the Web between selected printing units.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an intaglio web printing machine having a plurality of printing couples or units arranged in a line, a trackway extending along and above the printing couples, a web-reversing unit supported by and movable along the trackway and securable in any one of a plurality of operative positions thereon to reverse the web between selected printing couples.

Another object of this invention is the pro-. vision of an intaglio web printing machine having a plurality of printing couples arranged in a line, a trackway extending along and above the printing couples, a web-reversing unit'having a frame supported by and movable along the trackway, angularly-disposed web-turning bars supported by the frame, a web guide and propeller roller rotatably supported by the frame and operably interposed between the ,web turning bars, the web-reversing unit being securable in any selected operative position along the trackway to permit the web turning bars andtweb guide roller to reverse the running web between the selected printing couples, and means for driving the web guide and propeller roller at any selected operative position of the web-reversing unit along the trackway. v

It is also an object of this invention to provide an intaglio web printing machine having a webreversing unit of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable,

detailed description of an improved multi-color intaglio web printing machine incorporating a novel mobile web-reversing unit will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmental diagrammatic elevation of an intaglio web printing machine, showing the mobile'web-reversing unit applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmental plan view depicting the web-reversing unit;.

Figure 3 is a fragmental end elevation of the improved web-reversing unit, the view being taken in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmental side elevational view of the improved web-reversing unit, theview being taken in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmental detailed sectional View, taken on the line 55 of Figure 2, depicting the mounting for the web-reversing unit drive gear and. web roller supporting shaft; and

Figure 6 is a fragmenta-l detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, depicting a supporting roller for mobile webreversing unit.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, there is depicted a multi-color intaglio web printing machine having a supporting frame arranged to operably support a plurality of web printing units, and each unit includes an intaglio form or printing cylinderv H and a cooperating impression cylinder or roller l2, which is engaged by a reenforcing or back-up roller l3 of conventional construction. Although the machine supporting structure ID, for sake of brevity, has been referred to as a supporting frame, it is to be understood that the frame may include a separate frame for each printingunit suitably united in conformitywith the usual practice, but, inasmuch as this supporting structure forms no part of the invention it has been referred to generally as a frame. Each cylinder II is mounted in the usual or conventional intaglio ink fountain M to supply impression ink to the running web W. The web W is unwound from a web supply roll R mounted preferably at one end of and supported by the machine frame ID, as shown in Figure 1, and this web is guided from the supply roll R to and through the intaglio printing units or couples by suitable guide rollers I of conventional construction. 1

A superstructure frame I6 is mounted upon and is secured to the frame ID of the intaglio printing machine, and this superstructure frame l6 has a rail |1 extending along and above the line of printing units at each side of the machine, and the upper longitudinal edge of each rail I1 is preferably machined to define a trackway l8 to movably support a novel web-revers ng unit, to be hereinafter disclosed.

This invention contemplatesthe provision of a novel web-reversing unit 9 constructed and arranged to move along the tracks |8 of the rails H of the superstructure Hi to any selected operative position, where it may be secured to reverse the web between selected printing units. The web-reversing unit l9 includes spaced side members or rails 20, having a spreader or brace 2| secured to each end thereof by bolts or other suitable securing devices 22, and these braces 2| extend transversely across the machine to provide a rigid frame. Pockets or recesses 23 are formed in the lower portion of the side rails 20 to receive rollers or wheels 24 provided to permit the free movement of the Web-reversing frame, defined by the side rails 20 and cross braces 2|, to slide freely along the trackways |8 of the superstructure rails l1, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Securing plates 25 are fastened to the side rails 20 at each corner of the web-reversing unit by machine screws or other suitable securing devices 33, as best shown in Figures 4 and 6,

and a bearing shaft or spindle 21 extends through suitable apertures, formed in the side rail 20 and each securing plate 25, and also through each roller 24 to ro-tatably secure the roller 24 within the pockets 22, so that these rollers engage the smooth trackway l8 of the. superstructure rail H to permit free movement of the web-reversing unit l9 along the trackway. Each securing plate 25 extends downwardly beyond the lower edge of its rail 20 and has an aperture 28 formed therein, as shown in Figure 6, and when the web-reversing unit frame has been moved to a selected operative position along the trackway I8, each aperture 28 alines with one of a plurality of threaded apertures 30, formed in each rail |1, so that a threaded machine screw or other suitable securing device 3| may be positioned in and extended through. the unthreaded apertures 28 and into the threaded aperture 30, as shown in Figure 6, wherein it is secured to securely lock the web-reversing unit frame in selected operative position. A shaft or rod 32 is secured to the rails 20 and extends transversely across the web-reversing unit frame adjacent one end of the frame, and a similar rod 33 is received within apertures 35 formed in the side rails 20, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, to permit longitudinal sliding motion of the shaft 33 within the apertures 35. One end of the shaft 33 is reduced to provide a threaded extension 36, as best shown in Figure 6, and a suitable manipulating nut 31 is threadediy mounted on the reduced extension 36 and is swiveled to a side rail 2||by a suitable plate 38 which is received within an angular groove 40, formed in the outer peripheral portion of the nut 31, the purpose and function of which arrangement will be more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Angularly-disposed turner bars 4| and 42 are provided, and each bar has a sleeve or socket 43 formed at each terminal thereof, and these sockets are mounted on the rods 32 and 33, as best shown in Figures 2 and 6, and secured thereto by screws or other suitable securing device 45. The angular relation of the turner bars 4| and 42 to each other and the web reversing unit frame is determined by the position of the sockets or sleeves 43 on the rods 32 and 33, and a slight adjustment of the angular relation of these turner bars may be effected by rotating the manipulating nut 31, thus causing the bar 33 to move longitudinally within its supporting or bearing aperture 35, to slightly move the terminals of the turner bars, thereby changing their angular relationship.

In order to divert the web from its normal path of travel through the plurality of intaglio printing units, additional guide rollers la are suitably supported in predetermined positions with relation to the superstructure rail IT, by any suitable conventional brackets or supports, not shown. The rollers [5a, as will be hereinafter disclosed, guide the web from its normal path of travel into the web-reversing unit IS in any one of its selected operative positions, so that it may reverse the web W between selected printing units, and the web upon reaching the web-reversing unit is first received by a web-supporting roller 45 mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 41 formed in or mounted on the side rails 20 of the web-reversing unit. These bearings may be plain cylindrical apertures formed in the side rails 20, or, if preferred, conventional anti-friction bearing units may be employed. The web after passing the web-supporting roller 46 is turned upwardly over the angularly-disposed turner bar 4i, and then downwardly around a roller 48 rotatably mounted in bearings 50 formed in or supported by brackets 5| which are secured to a side rail 20 of the web-reversing unit H], as indicated at 49, and best shown in Figure 2. Then the web is guided inwardly around a propeller roller 52, mounted in anti-friction bearings 53, supported in the bracket 55, as shown in Figure 5. In order to drive the propeller roller 52, a gear 55 is secured to one terminal of the shaft 54 of the roller 52, by a key or other suitable securing device 51, and the gear 55 meshes with any one of a plurality of drive gears 56 that are carried by a shaft 51 extending longitudinally along the superstructure frame l6, and this shaft is rotatably mounted in suitable bearing brackets 58 40 secured to the rail ll of the frame, as indicated at 55. Each gear 56 is secured at a predetermined position along the shaft 51, so that it will mesh with the gear 55 in a selected position or station, and such station is chosen to permit the web-reversing unit to reverse the web between selected printing units. After the Web turns inwardly around the propeller roller 52, it is turned upwardly around the angularly disposed bar 42, and moves longitudinally in a direction away from the web sup-ply roll R and through a slot 6| formed in an end brace 2| of the web reversing unit, and then downwardly around a roller 62 rotatably mounted in bearings 63 formed in or supported by the side rails 25 of the webreversing unit, and next over one of the extra web guide rollers l5a back into the normal web path. A shaft 65 is positioned to parallel the roller 48, and, it is mounted for turning movement in bearings 66 formed in the outer terminals of the brackets 51. Spaced arms 61 are secured to the shaft 65, and each arm 61 has a roller 68 rotatably mounted at its outer terminal to cooperate with the propeller roller 52 in feeding the web through the web-reversing unit. One

. end of the shaft 55 has a manipulating arm secured thereto, and this arm may be moved to and secured in any selected position in order to adjust the rollers 58 in correct operating relationship to the roller 52, an operation which is well known and understood by those skilled in the art.

In operation, if it is desired to feed the web W from the supply roll R directly through the intaglio printing units A, B, C, and D, this may be accomplished by simply guiding the web along the conventional guide rollers l5 and through the selected printing couples where the web is engaged by the form cylinders II and impression cylinders l2, thereby printing on one side thereof. However, if it is desired to reverse the web W between any selected printing units, it is simply diverted from its normal path of travel, defined by the guide rollers l5, and led over the guide rollers l5a, as shown in full line at the left of Figure 1, through the web-reversing unit I9, then over an additional guide roller i5a back into its normal path of travel. In the arrangement depicted in full line in Figure 1, the web W passes through the printing couple A to receive a single impression on one side thereof, and it is next guided through the web reversing unit H! where it is reversed, and then down around a web guide roller a back into the normal web path, and finally it is led through the printing units B, C and D to receive three additional colors on the opposed side of the web. By employing the arrangement depicted in dotted lines in Figure 1, the web W is directed through its normal path of travel over the rollers I5 and through the printing units A, B and C. It is next diverted from its normal path of travel over the guide rollers l5a, through the web reversing unit I!) and then guided back into its normal path of travel where an'impression is made on the opposite side of the web by the printing unit D. It is manifest that by employing applicants arrangement, the web may be reversed between any selected units, so that any desired number of impressions may be made on each side of the web, and the web supplied from a single web supply roll station positioned at one end of the line of units without reversing the direction of rotation of the printing components of the units. This works a definite advantage, because a single web drying device M may be positioned adjacent the single normal web path of travel, whereas, in arrangements heretofore employed, in which the web ran in two directions through a common printing unit, it was necessary to employ two air drying devices for a single printing unit. Furthermore, applicant by providing means for reversing the web above and between adjacent printing units makes it possible to position the web supply roll at one end of the machine, thus avoiding a plurality of web stations and consequent space loss and expense. An additional advantage is gained in providing means for leading the web in both obverse and reverse relation in a common direction through all the printing units, because then a simplified fountain and doctor blade arrangement may be employed, thereby effecting substantial economy in equipment cost.

It is to be understood that the present embodiment of my invention may be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be'further understood that each and every novel feature and combination present in or possessed by the mechanism herein dis-closed forms a part of the invention included in this application.

I claim:

1. In a web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, a web-reversing unit movable to and securable in any one of a plurality of operative positions relative to the printing couples for reversing the web between the impressions of selected printing couples, and means for guiding the web to and through the printing couples and Web-reversing unit.

2. In a web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, a trackway extending along and above the printing couples, a web-reversing unit supported by and movable along the trackway to any. desired operative position for reversing the web between the impressions of selected printing couples, and means for guiding the web to and through the printing couples and Webreversing unit.

3. In a web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, a trackway extending along and above the printing couples, a web-reversing unit supported on and movable along the trackway to any desired operative position to reverse the web between the impressions of selected printing couples, means for securing the Web-reversing unit in any desired operative position along the trackway, and means for guiding the web to and through the printing couples and web-reversing unit.

4. In a web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, a trackway extending along and above the printing couples, a web-reversing unit supported by and movable along the trackway to any one of a plurality of predetermined operative positions to receive and reverse the web between the impressions of selected printing couples, means for securing the web-reversing unit in a selected operative position along the trackway, and means for guiding the web to and through the printing couples and web-reversing unit.

5. A web-reversing unit, for a web printing machine having a plurality of printing couples and a trackway extending along and above the printing couples, including a frame movable along the trackway to any selected position thereon, means for securing the frame in any selected position along the trackway, angularly-disposed bars supported by the frame, a guide roller rotatably supported by the frame and operably interposed between the said bars, the said bars and guide roller cooperating to reverse the running web between the impressions of selected printing couples. I

6. A web-reversing unit, for a web printing machine having a plurality of printing couples'and a trackway extending along and above the printing couples, including a frame movable along the trackway to any selected position thereon, means for securing the frame in any selected position along the trackway, angularly-disposed bars supported by the frame, a driven web guide roller rotatably supported by the frame and operably interposed between the said bars, the said bars and guide roller cooperating to reverse the running web between the impressions of selected printing couples.

'7. In a web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, each couple printing on one side of the web, a trackway extending along and above the printing couples, a web-reversing unit, having a plurality of web-engaging components, supported by and movable along the trackway to any one of a plurality of operative positions to reverse the web between the-impressions of selected printing couples, the said web-engaging components engaging only the unprinted side of the web, and means for guiding the web to and through the printing couples and web-reversing unit.

8. A web-reversing unit, for an intaglio web printing machine having a plurality of printing couples and a trackway extending along and above the couples, including a frame movable along the trackway to any selected position thereon, means for securing the frame in a selected position on the trackway, angularly-disposed bars supported by the frame, a guide roller operably interposed between the bars, the bars and guide roller cooperating to reverse the web between the impressions of selected printing couples and arranged to engage only the unprinted side thereof.

9. In an intaglio web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, a web-reversing unit having a frame, means for securing the web-reversing unit in any one of a plurality of operative positions between selected printing couples, angularly-disposed bars supported by the frame, a guide roller rotatably supported by the frame and operably interposed between the said bars, the said bars and guide roller cooperating to reverse the Web between the impressions of selected printing couples and arranged to engage only the unprinted side thereof.

10. In an intaglio Web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, a trackway extending along and above the couples, a web-reversing unit having a frame movable along the trackway, means for securing the Web-reversing unit in any one of a plurality of predetermined operative positions along the trackway, angularly-disposed bars supported by the frame, a guide roller rotatablysupported bythe frame,means for driving the guide roller at any one of the said predetermined operative positions of the web-reversing unit, the said bars and guide roller cooperating to reverse the running web between the impressions of selected printing couples.

11. In an intaglio web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, a trackway extending along and above the couples, a web-reversing unit having a frame movable along the trackway to any one of a plurality of operative positions of the said unit, means for securing the web-reversing unit in any one of the said operative positions, angularly-disposed bars supported by the frame, a guide roller r'otatably supported by the frame, a drive shaft extending along the printing couples, and means for operably connecting the drive shaft to the guide roller at any one of the plurality of operative positions of the web-reversing unit, the said bars and driven guide roller cooperating to reverse the running web between the impressions of selected printing couples.

12. In an intaglio web printing machine, a plurality of printing couples, a trackway extending along and above the couples, a web-reversing unit having a frame movable along the trackway to any one of a plurality of operative positions of the saidunit, means for securing the web-reversing unit in any. one of its operative positions, angularly-disposed bars supported by the frame, a guide roller rotatably supported by the frame, a gear secured to the guide roller, a drive shaft extending along the printing couples and driven by a power component of the printing machine, a drive gear secured to the drive shaft at any one of the said operative positions of the web-reversing unit to mesh with the said guide roller gear, the said bars and driven guide roller cooperating to reverse the running web between the impressions of selected printing couples.

ADOLPH M; ZUCKERMAN. 

